Vacuum cleaner structure



March 21, 1961 c. E. HANSEN 2,975,461

VACUUM CLEANER STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 9, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 @7m/vlag@ March 21, 1961 Filed Oct. 9, 1957 C.E.HANSEN VACUUM CLEANER STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 2l, 1961 c. E. HANSEN VACUUM CLEANER STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 9, 1957 March 21, 1961 Q E, HANSEN VACUUM CLEANER STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 9, 1957 March 21, 1961 c. E. HANSEN VACUUM CLEANER STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 9, 1957 March 21, 1961 c. E. HANSEN VACUUM CLEANER STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 9, 1957 platform and adjacent `toa side. ported on a rotatable caster 13. Each of the relatively `larger yrear wheels 12 is rotatably supported on a stub United States Patent VACUUM CLEANER STRUCTURE Clarence E. Hansen, Chicago, lll., assigner to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation 'of Delaware Filed Oct. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 689,072

6 Claims. '(Cl. 15-327) This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaner of this invention is of the canister type in which dirt-laden air is adapted to be drawn fro-m a cleaning tool through a wand and a ilexible hose into the interior of the cleaner where the dirt is passed through a lter bag for separating out the dirt. The air is then ejected from the cleaner while the dirt is retained in the bag.

The vacuum cleaner of this invention has a number of important features. Thus it is quite compact in that it has ya very low o-ver-all height with respect to its lateral dimensions of length and breadth. In addition, the exhaust of the cleaner is at a convenient location relative to the cleaner body so that the cleaner can easily and quickly be Convertedfor use as a blower. In addition the cleaner is quite simple in construction, is sturdy and compact and is easily transported from place to place. The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the appended claims and .the following description of one embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a vacuum cleaner embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the vacuum cleaner of this invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front sectional elevation of the tool carrier of the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the cleaner with the handle removed. V

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the unmounted tool carrier of the cleaner.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the platform of the vacuum cleaner and a portion of the rear tool `carrier with the enclosing casing and the suction unit removed.

Figure 8 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view partially in section of the front end of the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 10 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 9 but showing the casing in elevated position.

Figure ll is a fragmentary elevational view of the front of the vacuum cleaner.

In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings the vacuum cleaner includes an essentially horizontal, generally rectangular platform 10 supported for movement over a surface such as a floor by a pair of front wheels 11 and rear wheels 12. Each of the `front wheels 11 is located adjacent to the front of the vacuum cleaner Each wheel 11 is sup- Lsideedge ofthe platform 10.

In the platform, intermediate the edges thereof, there is provided a central circular opening 10a defined by an integral downwardly opening channel 17. This channel has positioned therein a gasket 18 of resilient rubber or the like. The bottom of the gasket 18 is held in place by means of the upper substantially horizontal rim 19a of an essentially cylindrical sheet metal chamber 19 de pending from the platform 1l). This chamber is held in position by means of a plurality of bolts 20 that engage the rim 19a and the platform 10 outwardly of the channel 17. The bottom 19h of the chamber is substantially parallel to but spaced above the iioor 21 or other surface on which the vacuum cleaner is adapted to be positioned.

Extending across the opening 10a in the platform is a metal plate 22 having its edges supported in the re silient gasket 13. This metal plate 22 supports a vertically arranged suction unit 23. The suction unit includes the usual electric motor 24 having an enclosing casing 25 and a multi-stage fan`26. This fan is mounted on the upper end of the vertically extending motor shaft 27. The fan includes an outer covering 28 having a central aperture 23a therein through which air is drawn. This covering in turn is covered by an air permeable felt and wire screen 29 having its lower edge frictionally engaging an outer upper extension 25a of the motor casing 25. The construction of the suction unit including the motor 24, Casing 25, and fan 26 is` purely conventional. A similar suction unit except with a single stage fan is shown in A. B. Bradley application Serial No. 524,962, tiled July 28, 1955 and now Patent No. 2,875,- 947.

The lower end of the suction unit 23 extends into the chamber 19 so that the air drawn into the fan through the opening 28a and down through the casing Z5 is` exhausted into this chamber. The chamber also contains the usual electrical connections to the motor including a socket 30 mounted on one side wall of the chamber 19 and adapted to receive in the customary manner the prongs of an electric plug 31 at the end of an electric cord 32 in the customary manner.

At the rear of the platform 10 and on the top of the channel 17 there is mounted an upwardly extending substantially centrally located catch plate 33. This catch plate has an opening 33a adjacent to its upper end which is curved upwardly and forwardly as indicated at 33b. The plate 33 itself is curved generally upwardly and forwardly with the sides curved forwardly in order to give it rigidity.

The details for the suction inlet for the cleaner are best shown in Figure 9. Mounted on the front of the platform 10 is a relatively wide bracket plate 34 having a bottom flange `34a attached to the platform. The bracket extends generally upwardly at its central portion identified at 34b with the top of the central portion being rounded forwardly as indicated at 34e. This portion 34h contains a central opening 34d in which. is positioned a rearwardly extending generally cylindrical horn 35. This horn is provided adjacent to its inner end with a circular raised bead 35a in order to aid in retaining the rubber diaphragm of a paper dust bag in the customary manner as shown, for example, in the co-pending application of C. E. Hansen, Serial No. 612,291, tiled September 2 6, 1956.

Attached to the front surface of the central portion 34b of the bracket plate is an annular resilient member 36 of sponge rubber. Adjacent to the bottom of the bracket plate 34 at the opposite ends thereof are a pair of forwardly extended substantially parallel vertical hinge anges 37.

The forward wall of the chamber 19 is provided with an opening 19e in which is supported one end of 'a for- Patented Mar. 21, 1961 wardly extending exhaust air conduit 38. This inner end of the conduit 38 is sealed to the chamber by means of rubber gaskets 39. The conduit 38 extends forwardly to beneath the forward edge b of the platform and is enlarged as indicated at 38a. 'This enlarged end 38a telescopicallyV receives the inner end of an auxiliary conduit tube 40 which serves as a support for the outer end of the conduit 38. The outer end of the conduit tube 40 is provided With a pair of laterally extending substantially coplanar extensions 41, as shown in Figure 11. These extensions 41 are attached to a depending skirt 42 extending downwardly around the edge of the platform 10 and which is provided at the center of the front of the platform with a gap 42a in which is located this auxiliary conduit tube 40. Thus the tube 40 serves as a support for the front end of the exhaust conduit 38 which is supported at its rear end by the chamber 19.

AIn a cylindrical area intermediate the ends of the auxiliary tube 40 there are provided a plurality of circumferentially arranged openings 40a separated by bridges 4Gb that form a part of the lauxiliary conduit 40. When the vacuum cleaner is used in its ordinary cleaning function, the outer end of the auxiliary tube 40 is closed by means of a flexible rubber plug 43. This plug is described and claimed in A. B. Bradley Patent No. 2,808,957,'issued October 8, 1957. During such use the exhaust air is exhausted in a diffused path through the openings 40a. However, when the vacuum cleaner is to be used as a blower, the plug 43 is removed and a blower tube of customary design is inserted into the auxiliary tube where it is supported by the front and rear ends thereof to bridge the openings 40a and thus block the exhaust through these openings and direct the exhaust through the blower tube in the customary manner. A somewhat similar structure is disclosed in C. E. Hansen Patent 2,759,659 issued August 21, 1956.

Mounted on the platform 10 is a casing 44 operating as an inverted cover and having a front surface 44a normally adjacent to the front edge of the platform, side Surfaces 44b adjacent tothe sides of the platform and a rear surface 44a located forwardly of the rear edge of the platform. The bottom edge of the casing 44 has attached thereto a rubber gasket 45 that is adapted to make sealing contact with the platform'when the casing 44 is in closed position as shown in Figure 2L The easing is hingedly' mounted on the platform by means of hinge pins 46 that engage the brackets 37 on the bracket plate 34.

The casing 44 is normally latched in closed position by means of a spring-urged catch 47 located on the rear wall 44:,` of the casing and urged into forward position by means of a spring 48 so as to engage the opening 33a lin the catch plate 33.

The front wall 44a of casing 44 is provided with a suction'inlet rin the form of ay short cylindrical fitting 48. This fitting 48 is of ordinary construction and functions inthe usual manner. Thus, it is provided with an internal groove 48a that is adapted to receive a catch that is ordinarily provided on the usual inner end of a suction hose (not shown). When the casing 44 is in its normally closed position the lfitting 48 is substantially coaxial with the inlet horn 35' to operate as an extension thereof. The adjacent ends of thetting and the horn are sealed by means of the circular gasket 36 mounted on the bracket plate 34.

The downwardly extending skirt 42 at the edge of the platform 10 has attached thereto Ia flat, resilient rubber bumper strip 49 extending around the platform. In order to give lrigidity to the platform 10 reinforcing grooves 10c are provided as shown most clearly in Figure 7.

Mounted on the rear of the platform 10 behind the casing 44 is a cleaning tool, hose and wand carrier '50 land a handle 51. The handle 51 extends beneath the platform 10 and is held by means of a bolt 52 between depending brackets 53. rlhe upper end'of the handle 51 extends beyond the tool carrier 50 and is provided with a hand engaging portion 51a.

The tool carrier 50 is of sheet metal construction provided with a rear surface 50a and forwardly extending sides 50b having the forward edges thereof covered by -a rubber bumper strip 54. The tool carrier is also provided with an upperV surface 50cthrough which the upper end of the handle 51 extends as shown in Figure 2.. The tool carrier 50 is provided with customary and conventional tool retaining members 55 of customary construction. Extending rearwardly of the platform 10 adjacent to the opposite sides thereof are a pair of brackets 56 on each of which is located an essen tially conical resilient rubber retainer 57. Each retainer is adapted to support the lower end of a customary wand section (not shown) whose upper end is then retained by means of -a spring clip 58 mounted on the rear wall 50a. The other end of each spring clip operates as one of the tool retaining holders 55. The rear wall 50a of the tool holder 50 is provided with a forwardly extending channel 50d extending from the bottom to adjacent the top thereof in order to give strength and rigidity to the tool holder. This portion is also provided with a hook 59 below the center thereof which may be used to hold the coiled electric cord 32.

The tool carrier 50 is mounted on the platform 10 by means of a plurality of fasteners 60 engaging bottom flanges 61 on the bottom of the tool carrier. Fasteners 62 are also provided at the corners of the rear of the platform 10 in order tol fasten in position the brackets 56 and the wheel mounting brackets 16.

During the normal operation of the vacuum cleaner dirt-laden air is drawn through a cleaning tool, a wand to which the tool is attached, a hose to which the wand is attached (all of which are not shown), and through the fitting 48 and horn 3S into the interior of the usual paper dust separating bag (not shown) that is attached to the horn 35. In this bag the dirt is retainedpand the air passes through the bag through the felt-covered screen 29, into the opening 28a through the suction unit 23 and into the chamber 19. From here the air is exhausted forwardly through the conduit 38 and diffused outwardly through the openings 40a.

When the cleaner is to be used as a blower, the rubber plug 43 is removed from the end'of the conduit tube 40 and the end of a blower hose (not shown) of ordinary construction is inserted into the end of this tube 40 to bridge the openings 40a. Then all of the exhaust air is forced through the hose so that-the apparatus functions as a blower. A

While the invention herein described is a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific form and arrangement shown, it being contemplated that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departingrfrom the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vacuum cleaner,V comprising: a platform; supporting wheels thereon; a depending skirt around the edge of said platform; a suction unit on said platform having an inlet above and an outlet beneath the platform; and enclosing chamber beneath the platform located inwardly of one edge thereof having an exhaust opening therein; an exhaust conduit beneath said platform positioned in said opening and leading from said chamber outwardly toward said one edge; a separable auxiliary conduit tube at'the outer end of Vsaid conduit concentrically aligned in supporting engagement with the conduit operating as an extension thereof; and means securing said auxiliary conduit tube to the depending skirt, the combination of said c onduits and said securing means providing relatively easy alignment of parts during assembly.

2. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein the innerrend of said tube is telescopically received within the outer end of said conduit to provide a support for said conduit.

3. A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a platform; supporting wheels thereon; a depending skirt around the edge of said platform; a suction unit on said platform having an inlet above and an outlet beneath the platform; a casing on said platform normally enclosing said unit having a wall adjacent to an edge of the platform; a suction inlet in said wall; an enclosing chamber beneath the platform located inwardly of said edge thereof having an exhaust opening therein, the skirt having an open section therein at said edge; an exhaust conduit beneath said platform positioned in said opening and leading from said chamber outwardly toward said one edge; and a removable auxiliary conduit tube telescopically received at the outer end of said conduit concentrically aligned with the conduit operating as an extension thereof located within and supported by said open section, the conduit tube having a plurality of generally circumferentially arranged openings for the exhaust of air when the outer end of said tube is closed, said auxiliary conduit providing for relatively easy alignment of said conduit during assembly.

4. The cleaner of claim 3 wherein said conduit tube is provided with lateral extensions on opposite sides thereof attached to adjacent sections of said skirt, the tube engaging and supporting said conduit.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein a casing is provided on the top of said platform normally enclosing said unit having a wall adjacent an edge of the platform and a suction inlet is provided in said wall.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said depending skirt hides at least the portion of said chamber that is adjacent the platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,890,283 Eriksson-.Tons Dec. 6, 1932 2,439,182 Nuffer et a1. Apr. 6, 1948 2,591,567 Lofgren et al. Apr. 1, 1952 2,616,517 Beck Nov. 4, 1952 2,759,659 Hansen Aug. 21, 1956 2,819,485 Sparklin Jan. 14, 1958 

